Grand Theft Auto 3 Official Strategy Guide for PC

This book is great, however, I still spotted many mistakes that should be fixed. Some of the hidden packages on the map are marked in wrong location. One of them is on the pier, when I went there but couldn't find it, actually it was on the OTHER pier further up. Some of the hidden packages discription & screenshots are misplaced. Don't rely too much or totally on this guide, use your imagination. it will be much more fun.

I use this guide to help me to locate hidden packages, rampages location, unique stunts, secrets and path for checkpoint-to-checkpoint missions. Which is very handy as reference.

Map arrangement could be improved, I hate to flip for description at the back of the page everytime I needs them. It would be better if the map placed on the left page; description on the right page.

However, the paper quality is kind of bad, which can easily peel off. And due to bad maps arrangement, causes too many flipping front and back vice versa, the pages actually peel off from book, and I actually forget about the main portion as I only need the map ;)

HOWEVER!!! Everything that I conplained about and I mean EVERYTHING that was wrong with the PS2 version strategy guide was addressed and fixed in this version. Apparenly the guy who wrote this book played GTA 3 a lot and it showed in the incredibly detailed and powerfully enthusiastic manner in which the book was written. Where one map would have done okay as in the firt book, he gave you several, all with different colors and excellently labeled icons!

His depiction of mission levels including the Off Road missions (which by the way were all but completely ignored by his predecessor) were written with precision and step by step, easy to follow directions.

One example of the differences in the two books:

Hidden packages map: THe first strategy guide for the PS2 gives a map of each island and a little icon corresponding to the package location, and on the adjacent page a shore sentence telling you where each one is.

In this new book, there are not only maps and FAR MORE detailed explanations of the packages but little thumbnail screenshots showing EVERY package in it's "in game" location! Talk about going the extra mile!!!

While the first attermpt at a strategy guide is more of a glorified hints and tips manual that reads as if it were slapped together after the author went through the game once or twice quickly at most, this book is a bona fide walkthrough of every single facet of the game.

Oh and if you are buying GTA 3 on PS2 and not on the PC? BUY THIS GUIDE ANYWAY! Forget the PS2 version's guide, trust me! You just have to get used to the differences in the control scheme is all. But you will thank me for it later on. Hey if you need the control buttons, the game itself comes with a manual!